The Fight for the IBF Mandatory Position Features the Hungry Prospect Against the Seasoned Veteran

Glendale, California: On Saturday, December 12 Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs) and Karo Murat (27-2-1, 17 KOs) will square off from the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California live on HBO Latino Boxing beginning at 10 PM ET/PT. Below is the scouting report for this exciting match-up:

Sullivan Barrera

Category

Age : 33

Record : 16-0-0 (11 KOs)

Strength : Barrera is a strong and hungry light heavyweight contender. He has solid endurance, a good chin and a decent jab that he uses well. Hopefully he will put that jab to good use in this bout.

Weakness : Sullivan has a tendency to get sloppy at times; he has yet to face any of the top contenders in the division, which could be crucial when battling the veteran Murat.

Experience : Sullivan has about half as many professional fights as Murat. He has also yet to face the level of competition that Karo has faced.

Power : Sullivan has solid power in both hands. He has a strong jab and also possesses a strong uppercut that, if landed, can be a complete game-changer in any bout.

Speed : Sullivan’s speed may not be on display until he smells blood and goes for the finish.

Endurance : Barrera’s endurance has yet to be seen, he went eight rounds in his most recent bout for the first time in his career. This will be his first scheduled 12-round fight.

Accuracy : Sullivan’s accuracy is on point when he gets his jab going and puts his punches together behind it.

Defense : When Barrera uses his long range and works the jab it is very difficult for any fighter to get on the inside against him.

Chin : Sullivan has been down before but has recovered well. He has yet to be in any great danger so his chin is still in question.

Style : Barrera is a good technical fighter that has a tendency to turn brawler if his opponent has his way.

Intangibles : Sullivan has been calling out the top names in the division with no prevail; he has finally landed the big fight with an always-dangerous veteran in Murat. He has no intentions of letting Murat’s experience become a factor in this fight and plans on becoming the next mandatory challenger for the IBF Light Heavyweight Title.

Crowd Support : Barrera has had more fights in the US than his opponent and trains in California. He may bring a solid local crowd.

Karo Murat

Category

Age : 32

Record : 27-2-1 (17 KOs)

Strength : Murat is a tough and well-seasoned fighter with plenty of experience on his side. He likes to come forward, be the aggressor, and utilize good bodywork.

Weakness : Karo is quick on his feet but does not utilize them as well as he could. He likes to stand in front of his opponents, which allows them to get their shots off on him.

Experience : Karo has been in major title fights with the legendary Bernard Hopkins and former titleholder Nathan Cleverly.

Power : Murat has average power, he does not possess that one-punch knockout power in either hand. However, he does have a strong left hook that can alter the fight if landed clean.

Speed : Karo has quick hands that can be seen when he gets to fight on the inside. He moves well around the ring when he chooses to do so.

Endurance : Murat has been a full 12 rounds on six separate occasions, posting a record of 4-1-1 when doing so.

Accuracy : When Karo gets on the inside he exhibits affective accuracy; he throws good combinations and is a great body puncher as well.

Defense : Murat has quick feet and moves around the ring well. However, he likes to stalk his opponents and stand in front, which unfortunately allows his opposition to land their shots as well.

Chin : Karo has a very durable chin that has allowed him to utilize the aggressive style that he has used throughout his career.

Style : Murat is a boxer/puncher who likes to get inside and work the body. Similar to his opponent, he also has no problem turning the fight into a slugfest.

Intangibles : Karo Murat is a gamer and a potential problem for anyone. He is willing to take any route necessary in order to get back into title contention, even if it means squaring off against a hungry, undefeated, ranked contender in Sullivan Barrera.

Crowd Support : Karo has not had much exposure on American soil other than his title fight with Bernard Hopkins. He may not be known to the local California crowd, but his fan-friendly style may earn him some support as the fight progresses.

The Match-up :

1. This is Sullivan’s toughest fight to date. Will he be able to handle everything that comes along with this inside and outside of the ring?

2. Murat has been in with some seasoned pros. Will he be able to handle a hungry up-and-coming fighter who wants to fight nothing but the best?

3. This is for the mandatory position in the IBF with the winner moving on to challenge Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. Will either of them be looking beyond his fight prematurely?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker and NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone, “Barrera has been looking for a challenge. He will finally get what he has been looking for in this fight. Murat managed to go the distance in his fight with Bernard Hopkins so Barrera will have to be prepared to go the full 12 rounds. We believe that Barrera will be able to capitalize on this opportunity even though he has a tough challenge in front of him.”